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 Situated
at an altitude of 1065 mt. at the meeting point of the Vindhya and the
Satpura mountain ranges amongst sylvan surroundings, Amarkantak is a
great pilgrim centre for the Hindus, and is the source of the rivers
Narmada and Sone. While the Narmada flows Westwards from Amarkantak, the
Sone flows towards the East. Amarkantak is indeed blessed by Nature.
Holy ponds, lofty hills, forested surroundings, breathtakingly beautiful
waterfalls and an ever-pervading air of serenity make Amarkantak a much
sought-after destination for the religious-minded as well as for the
nature-lover.
Among all the sacred
rivers of India, the Narmada occupies a unique place. Legend has it that
Lord Shiva blessed Narmada with unique purifying powers. Whereas to
purify himself, a devotee requires to take one dip in the Holy Ganga,
seven days' prayers on the banks of Yamuna and three days prayers on the
banks of Saraswati, the mere sight of Narmada is enough. A charming folk
tale describes the superiority of Narmada over Ganga. Once every year,
after she herself is polluted beyond tolerance, Ganga visits Narmada
dressed like a dark woman and takes a cleansing purifying dip in its
waters!
There are other rivers
too, popular, romantic andlife sustaining, each glamourized in the folk
lore and history but none can match the mystique of Narmada.
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